What are the differences between foreigners holding a work visa and permanent residence in China when changing jobs?

外国人持有工作签证与持有中国永居在转换工作时有什么不一样：

Cancellation of work permit

注销工作许可

Hold a work visa:

持有工作签证：

The law stipulates that foreigners must cancel their work permit and residence permit at the same time after ending their labor relationship with the company. If they fail to go through the cancellation procedures in accordance with the law, the enterprise and the foreigner will be investigated for legal responsibility.

法律规定外籍人士在与公司结束劳动关系后，必须同时办理工作许可和居留许可注销，如没有依法办理注销手续，将追究企业与外籍人士的法律责任。

Therefore, if the foreigner terminates the contract and terminates the employment relationship with the enterprise in advance, the enterprise needs to apply to the Bureau of Foreign Experts Affairs for cancellation of the work permit within one month.

因此，外籍人士与企业提前终止合同、解除聘用关系的，企业需要在一个月内向外专局申请注销工作许可。

Hold China Permanent Residence:

持有中国永居：

Since foreigners with permanent residence in China generally do not need to apply for a work permit when they are employed, the enterprise does not need to submit an application for cancellation of the work permit when terminating the contract and terminating the employment relationship with them in advance.

由于持有中国永居的外籍人士在就业时一般无需办理工作许可，故企业在与其提前终止合同、解除聘用关系，无需提交注销工作许可的申请。

Cancellation of residence permit

注销居留许可

Hold a work visa:

持有工作签证：

After the cancellation of the work permit, foreigners need to go to the immigration department in person to complete the cancellation of the work residence permit. At the same time, foreign immediate family members also need to convert a residence permit for personal affairs into a stay T visa.

注销工作许可后，外籍人士还需亲自前往出入境部门办理工作类居留许可的注销手续。以此同时，外籍直系家属也需要把私人事务居留许可转成停留T签证。

Hold China Permanent Residence:

持有中国永居：

China Permanent residence allows foreigners to stay in China for an unlimited period of time, so there is no need to cancel the residence permit. Their family members are also not affected by the foreigner's job change because they already hold a Chinese permanent residence ID card.

中国永居允许外籍人士在中国居留期限不受限制，故无需办理居留许可的注销。其家属也因已经持有中国永久居留身份证不受外籍人士工作变更的影响。

30-day stay visa

30天停留签证

Hold a work visa:

持有工作签证：

After the cancellation of the residence permit, foreigners will be able to apply for a 30-day stay visa, during which time if they find employment opportunities in other organizations, they can apply for a work permit transfer and an extension of the residence permit.

在注销居留许可后，外籍人士将可申请30天的停留签证，期间如果找到其他单位的就业机会，可以申请办理工作许可的转聘和居留许可延期。

However, if it is not possible to find employment opportunities or change the residence permit for reunion within this period, the foreigner must leave China and re-enter China after re-applying for the relevant visa. Their foreign family members were also forced to leave the country to re-apply for visas because their visas could not be renewed.

但若在此期间内无法找到就业机会或无法转换办理团聚居留许可，则外籍人士必须离境，待重新办理相关签证后，方可再次入境中国。及其外籍家属也因签证无法续期，导致被迫离境重新申请签证入境。

Hold China Permanent Residence:

持有中国永居：

Since I can stay in China without any restrictions, there is no need to rush to find another job in the short term. The family does not need to worry about any work problems.

由于可不受限制地停留在中国，故此无需着急在短期内重新寻找就业机会。家属无需担心任何工作上的问题。

Age limit of 60 years

60岁年龄限制

Hold a work visa:

持有工作签证：

When a foreigner is in his or her late 60s, it is generally more difficult to obtain a work permit or a shorter period of time, so it is more difficult for a foreigner to continue to live in China for a long time even if he or she does not change jobs. Foreign families who intend to settle in the country will also face forced departure.

当外籍人士临近60岁或满60岁后，一般较难获得工作许可或获批较短时效，因此，即使不转换工作，外籍人士亦较难继续长久留在中国生活。而如果打算在国内定居的外籍家庭，也将面临被迫离境。

Hold China Permanent Residence:

持有中国永居：

China Permanent Residence allows foreigners to work without a work permit, and there are no restrictions on how long they can stay in China, so they do not have to consider whether they are close to 60 years old.

中国永居允许外籍人士就业无需办理工作许可，在中国居留期限不受限制，因此无需考虑自己是否临近60岁。